A ‘No’ (to the introduction of divorce) result in the upcoming referendum will put the principles of tolerance and diversity at stake, said EU and International Affairs spokesperson for Alternattiva Demokratika Arnold Cassola, yesterday. He was speaking during a press conference held outside the university gates.
AD reminded people that Malta joined the EU in 2004 and urged the Maltese people to live up to the European Union’s motto ’United in diversity’ during this Saturday’s referendum. People should be tolerant to other people’s beliefs, even if they are different. Prof. Cassola said that ‘Yes’ votes are also a hope towards restoring the concept of equality among all Maltese citizens and not privileging those who can get a divorce from abroad, as is the current situation.
AD chairperson Michael Briguglio added that if introduced the Maltese divorce law would be the most conservative in the world after that of Ireland and Italy.
Meanwhile, AD was disappointed and deplored the way the Electoral Commission stopped the European Green Party from monitoring the vote counting process, and said that Malta is the only country in Europe where these things happen (the Electoral Commission’s position has since changed – see pg. 5). Prof. Cassola appealed to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to intervene similarly to how he had intervened when around 1,000 foreigners eligible to vote had been removed without a reason from the electoral register during the 2008 general election.
Full Article: INDEPENDENT online.
